Wire binding machines come in a range of different sizes and functionalities. The main difference between models is how many sheets of paper can be bound in one document. Another difference between wire binding machine models is the quality of materials used in production. A metal wire binding machine will generally last longer than a smaller plastic machine as the punching and binding mechanisms are stronger and can punch more sheets.
Wire binding machines come in two hole-patterns when punched (known as pitches) - 3:1 pitch and 2:1 pitch. The most popular wire binding machine type is 3:1. This is used to bind smaller sized documents - also known as 34 Ring Wire Binding - with binds from 2 to 135 pages of 80 gsm paper.
This type of machine punches holes in a 3:1 pitch or 3 holes per 1 inch. The 2:1 wire binders are ideally used for binding thicker sized documents - also known as 23 Ring Wire Binding - with binds from 45 to 340 pages of 80 gsm paper. This type of machine punches holes in a 2:1 pitch or 2 holes per inch.